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State Senator Kevin Parker Convicted on 2 Misdemeanor Charges Senate This Close to Republican Control

December 9, 2010 by  
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Kevin Parker was convicted in Kings County Supreme Court of 2 counts of Criminal Mischief, Class A misdemeanors. He faces up to one year in jail. The jury trial was the result of an incident that took place outside his home in May 2009 in which Parker was accused of damaging a camera and an automobile belonging to a NY Post photographer. Parker was acquitted of several felony charges. Sentencing will take place on January 27, 2011.
Already, there is speculation that Senator Parker’s case would be handled similarly to that of former State Senator Hiram Monsurrate, who was expelled by members of his own body after a conviction for domestic violence. State Senate Conference Leader John Sampson “rejects the notion of an equitable comparison” between Parker and Monsurrate.  It is “not a fair comparison. One involved domestic violence, which is not tolerated,” said Sampson.
Regarding what actions the senate will take as a result of Parker’s conviction, Sampson said, “All the information and the facts with respect to his trial and conviction have not come out. We do not know if there will be jail time. At this point in time, it is premature until I have all the facts so that a determination can be made.” A spokesperson said the Senator  will not pre-empt the sentencing phase of the issue.
Parker’s conviction complicates an already contentious situation in the state Senate. As of press time, the state Senate is divided by 31 Republicans and 30 Democrats. The one outstanding district is that of Craig Johnson’s 7th Senatorial district. Sampson admits “We have lost a couple of court decisions.” The Democratic Conference has appealed in appellate court for a hand recount of  ”All we ask is that all the votes be counted,” said Sampson.
Sampson attributed the loss of Democrat Antoine Thompson  seat by 527 votes to low turnout in western NY, which is 5-1 democratic registration. “Though we lost that seat. We will regain that seat in the next two years. Republicans cannot hold it during the next election year in which Barack Obama will be running.”
Sampson continues to call for Democrats and Republicans to work together.  In the case of a 31-31 split, they would have to work together. If not, there would be gridlock. The deciding vote would be the Lieutenant Governor, a Democrat, who can only vote on non-fiscal issues.
This week saw the closing of OTB after a 29 to 20 vote in the Senate failed to save it. Only two Republicans votes to save OTB through financial restructuring: outgoing Queens Senator Frank Padavan, who has Aqueduct Racetrack in his district and Roy McDonald whose upstate district covers Saratoga Springs, a racing stronghold.
$11 million was what was needed to save OTB. According to an insider, OTB has historically had financial problems during the 44 years of Senate republican rule. Problems have been “festering for years.” OTB, a legal bookmaker, allowed people to bet on a product they did not control – horse racing at Aqueduct and other racetracks. According to the source, OTB was required to pay fees to the various racetracks, and hadn’t for a number of years.
“This is a prelude to what is going to be happening in the state now that the Republicans may have the advantage of being in the majority. This is their form of economic development, making sure there is a loss of jobs,” said Sampson.
“1,000 people were terminated because OTB closed their doors.  The closing of OTB in the city resonates throughout the State of New York. This can destroy the entire racing industry which is responsible throughout the state for 10-17,000 jobs – from farmers, to people who sell hay to horse owners. They were trying to hold everything up to get  a regional OTB, particularly in Sen. Skelos’ district in Nassau and Suffolk. We turned our back and gave them an early Christmas gift – pink slips.”

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State Senator Kevin Parker’s Recommendation to MWBE’s After New Bill Signed into Law

July 31, 2010 by  
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On July 15, 2010, Governor David Paterson made history in New York by signing into law the first comprehensive legislation for the inclusion of Minority and Women Business Enterprises in the bid and business process throughout the state.  It is now a law of the land, and will have a broad generative effect across the board for enhancing and empowering Black-and minority-owned businesses.  Historically speaking, these businesses have been marginalized, or not included at all in many of the major multimillion-dollar contracts leD by City and State government.

Major vendors have come into the area and have been able to establish businesses without including local businesses, contractorS or services.  With the signing of the bill, the dynamic has changed.  The implications for Brooklyn’s minority business enterprises is tremendous.

State Senator Kevin Parker, of Brooklyn’s 21st Senatorial District, which encompasses Flatbush, Ditmas Park, Midwood and other areas,  took time to spell out the details and the impact these four new bills will have on Black-and minority-owned businesses in Brooklyn and throughout the state. 

What follows is a brief interview with the senator, immediately after Governor David Paterson’s historic signing of the bill into law:

GDW: What’s the significance of this bill?  And what does this mean for us in Brooklyn?

KP:  Well, it’s actually a package of four bills, three of which deal with something called 15A, which deals with procurement for the state of New York.  And the fourth bill actually deals with the Emerging Managers bill which now, for the first time, allows Blacks, Latino, women and Asians who are engaged in financial services, to now have a program that requires the state to give them their due.

To further put that in perspective, Senator Parker compared New York’s budget with the rest of the world: “Right now, the state of New York is the third- largest budget in the entire country.  First is the Federal Government’s budget, [second] the state of California, then the state of New York.  Out of that $136 billion that we’re going to spend this year in the state of New York, between $25 and $30 billion is procured out for everything from paper clips to large construction projects.  And so, historically, African-Americans, Latinos, women and Asians have had very, very, very small percentages — actually less than two percent totally  — of that money.  This is now going to expand the process — the process has existed for a while — but this will expand the process by which MWBE’s get access to those state contracts.”

GDW:  Brooklyn is the entrepreneurial capital of New York.  More people actually have their own small businesses. Specifically, what kinds of things are you going to do in Brooklyn to ensure those people are involved?

KP:  Well this is the first time that we’re connecting Wall Street to Main Street. Literally, Wall Street to the Main Streets of my community.  The Church Avenues, the Flatbush Avenues, the Nostrand Avenues.  And so, one,  there are going to be a lot of programs vis à vis every agency.  So from the Department of Transportation to the Empire State Development Corporation will be having programs.  A lot of elected officials, including myself, are doing press conferences, press releases and notices, and mailers to our community to let them know what’s going on.

GDW:  Is there anything that the other side of the community needs to do.  In other words, those people who are just getting into the fray and have never been certified as an MWBE can do?

KP:  Well, I think that what the people should be doing is reaching out to the agency, particularly to the Empire State Development Corporation.

Senator Parker is known for encouraging local small business growth with the creation of Building Blocks Local Development Corporation.  He has also hosted three business development forums throughout the district, so his sense of commitment to business development is already established.

That said, he offered several recommendations to MWBE’s  who stand to benefit from this new legislation:

KP:  There are really a number of things that people need to do.  I have five quick tips:

One, people need to get their paperwork straight.  Your personal financials; if you have a business already, get your business finances together and make sure you have a good business plan.

Two, research the opportunities that are available with the state.  Whether you’re selling furniture, there’s the Department of Education, you may want to look at the Health Department; if you do construction, you may want to talk with the Thruway Authority and the Dept. of Transportation; you can research and see who is your best opportunity to do business with.

The Third thing you want to make sure that you do is to get certified.  There’s a certification process with the state.

GDW:  Having worked as a minority business liaison in the past, I have to ask you has that process been streamlined?  It used to take forever.

KP: It has been.  It’s now a two-day process — it used to be a very long process, we’ve streamlined it.  I think it’s a one-page form now.  But it’s much easier.  And then last, make sure you reach out to your elected officials.  So, whether it’s myself or your assembly or city council person, they will have information on how minority—and women—owned businesses are working; and how you get your best access back to those opportunities.

KP: The important point is that we provide transparency to the process, accountability to the process; and more importantly, enforcement to make sure that people who were not in compliance with it are taken to task. The signing of this bill by the governor today is an acknowledgment that labor market discrimination exists in the state of New  York.  And that we, in fact, need to address it.  The way to address it is to make sure that Black and Latino, Asian and Women—Owned Businesses have more capacity to do hiring by giving them more business opportunities.  More business opportunities equates to more employment opportunities in all of our communities.

If you are interested in additional information on the Minority and Women Business Enterprises, contact the Empire State Development Corporation at www.empire.state.ny.us, or Senator Kevin Parker’s office at (718) 629-6401.

For a more in depth report on the MWBE and its impact, log on to my Blog:  http://www.gloriadulanwilson.blogspot.com

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